Shanghai through the eyes of an expat

An expat who has chronicled Shanghai’s changes over the last 10 years with street photography launches his book today.

‘For the Benefit of the People’ is a collection of candid snaps, the earliest of which Dvir Bar-Gal took in 2001 on his second day in the city. He said: “It was a grey place. The population was very monochromatic with people wearing the same clothes. The city has become much more colourful.” He added: “The first time I came here… you expect the exotic China, but this city has so many other things too.”

The television journalist from Israel lives in Shanghai with his wife and puppy and is best known for his research into the city’s Jewish history. But he says he always has a camera on him and a year and a half ago he decided to compile his collection for a book. The pictures all have a subtext. Often the reality belies the writing on a banner or sign in the picture. The photo which gives the book its title shows abandoned homes, probably ready for demolition, with a banner which reads “For the benefit of the people”.